Oscar Harris

2005 Research

Abstract:Are You Ready to T.A.L. K?: Evaluating a Community-Based Approach to Tween Mentoring

Mentor: Dr. Sue Marie Wright, Department of Sociology

This report tracks the development of the T.A.L.K. (Together Asset-building Leads Kids) mentoring program, which focuses on taking care of today's youth by building on the 40 developmental assets needed to insure success. T.A.L.K. has integrated a parental and community involvement element into the matrix of mentoring programs. Previous research revealed that even through Big Brother Big Sisters (BBBSI) mentoring program is having profound success with its mentoring strategies, networking more with the mentees' parents and local community could improve outcomes for at-risk youth. This report outlines the program evaluation process and also gives suggestions on how to shorten the "mentoring gap" that exists among today's youth by using data to validate the use of mentoring programs.